Leading Australian jockey Rachel King is no stranger to Group I success, but achieved a first in Japan on Sunday in becoming the first woman to ride a G1 winner on the JRA circuit when steering Costa Nova to victory in the February Stakes (1600m) on the dirt.
Trained by Tetsuya Kimura and bred and raced by Katsumi Yoshida, Costa Nova won by three-quarters of a length in the big field of 16.
A five year-old stallion by Lord Kanaloa, Costa Nova has won seven of 10 starts and is the 11th Group I winner for Lord Kanaloa, who has two sons at stud in Australia at Yulong in Tagaloa and Panthalassa (Jpn).
He is a half-brother to Group II placed Feiern Kranz from Colourful Blossom, a half-sister to stakes-winner Pillani Highway from stakes-winner Tropical Blossom.
It’s been a busy few days for Rachel King as she had been riding in Saudi Arabia in the international jockeys challenge where she finished second.
